Vending machine



Dec. 20, 1932. J. GoTTFRxED VENDINCT MACHINE Filed Sept. 16,

1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I0/1n Gai/fled BY Mfznmw ATTORNEYS J.GOTTFRIED VENDING MACHINE Dec. 2G, 1932.

Filed Sept. 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR u 7g/zzz Holi/fled M/d mff? ATTORNEYS De@ 20 1932- J. GOTTFRIED 1,391,640

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I l/ l il "M M IVDec. 20, 1932. J, GOTTFR|ED 1,891,640

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV ENTOR 5M/wa,*9M

ATTORNEYS J. GOTTFRIED VENDING MACHINE Dec. 2o, 1932.

Filed Sept. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Etilltmw UL@ ATTORNEYS J.GOTTFRlED VENDING MACHINE Dec. 20, 1932.

Filed Sept. 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lNVENTOR L/bn Gofd rw( ATT-ORN EYSPatented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN GOTTFBIED,

TION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR TO CAMEO SCALE CORPORA- CORPORATION OFNEW YORK VENDING MACHINE Application tiled September 16, 1930. SerialNo. 482,263.

My invention relates to article vending machines and particularly thosewhich. are coin controlled, and its general ob]ect 1s to provide a newand improved machine of that class.

Among the specific objects of the invention one is to provide new andimproved counterweight devices whereby the weight employed to elevate astack of vendible articles is automatically lessened as the Weight ofthe stack decreases. A second object is to improve and simplify meansfor preventing a vending operation when an article or package stack isexhausted, the package support itself functioning as a stop to prevent avending operation. A third specific object is to improve and render morecertain the operation of the devices which normally prevent operation ofthe vending mechanism. A fourth specific object is to improve and rendermore certain the operation of the coin return mechanism.

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my inventionconsists in f the features of construction, combinations of devices andarrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

My invention will be described in detail in connection with theaccompanyin drawings which illustrate the preferred orm of invention andwherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the upper partof the machine, the section on which the view is taken correspondinggenerally with the section line 2-2 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding with Fig.2 but omitting some of the parts shown therein and showing their partsin different relationships, Fig. 3 showing the position of the partsafter a coin has been inserted;

Fig. 4 corresponds with Fig. 3 but shows the position of the partsduring the operation of returning a com to the intending purchaser;

Fig. 5 corresponds with Fig. 2 but illustrates the position of the partsnear the completion of the return movements following a vendingoperation;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view corresponding with Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the planeindicated by the section line 7-7 in Fig. 6;

F ig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the planesomewhat below the plane on Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the planecorresponding with the section line 10-10 in Fig. 8;

Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary horizontal sectional views taken onplanes indicated respectively by the section lines 11-11 and 12-12 ofFig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the lane indicated by thesection line 13-13 of ig. 10;

-Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view looking at parts fromthe rear of the machine and taken on the plane indicated at the sectionline 14-14 in Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated at thesection line 15-15 in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a view corresponding with Fig. 15 but showing certain of theparts in different relationships;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary plane view partly in section of the parts inFig. 15; and

Fig. 18 is a view corresponding with Fig. 1T but showing differentrelationships of the arts.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the machine is enclosed in a casing 10 providedat its lower front part with doors 11 giving access to the interior. Asillustrated the machine which is of the multiple key type is providedwith a plurality of finger pieces or keys 12, five of such keys beingillustrated and cach operative on an associate stack or supply ofarticles or packages. The common receptacle of the articles vended bythe machine when any of the finger pieces 12 is operated is illustratedat 13. At the upper part of the machine is a coin receiving slot 14 andat the right and somewhat below the slot is a. key or linger piece 15operative to return a coin to the intending purchaser, the receptaclefor the returned coin being indicated at 16.

The casin 10 encloses a frame-work for supportin t e elements of thevending mechanism, sai frame-work as thoroughly shown in Figs. 8, 10 and11 com rising upri hts 17 and horizontally dispose bars 18. ertain ofthe uprights provide guides for article carriers, sup ports orplatforms, which preferably are constituted b sheet metal members 19 ofsuitable form, t ese being slidable up and down along uprights or ides17. Associated with each support or p atform 19 is a counterweightelement comprising a plurality of weights, two of such wei hts beinshown in the present instance and esi ate by the numbers 2O and 21.Normall t e upper weight 21 rests on the lower an the two are adapted toslide up and down between certain of the uprights 17 The counterweightelement is connected with its associate platform by flexible connectionor cord 22 of wire or the like, such connection running over a groovedpulley 23 pivoted at 24. in bearin plates 25 supported on theframe-work. ord 22 runs through perforations in the counterwei hts 20and 21 and is provided at its end wit suitable devices 26 preventingwithdrawal. It will be understood that there are two pulleys 23 and twocords 22 associated with each platform and its counterweight element,the cords bein attached to ears or tabs 19a at about the middle of thesides of the platforms, and running over their associate pulleys throughtheir apertures in the counterwei hts, said apertures being formed nearthe si es of the counterweights and at midway of their depth so that thepull may be equalized. Pre erably each air of ulleys 23 are connected toturn to t er, their ivots being constituted by sha t 24, which ears neareach end in one of the bearing plates 25.

The vendible articles indicated at 27 are arranged in stacks or piles onthe platforms 19 which during the oading operation are retained in theirlowermost position by spring detents 28.

The machine as illustrated was especially designed for vending packagesof cigarettes and the articles 27 illustrated are cigarette packs. butit is to be understood of course that tceesmachine ma be adapted forvending any suitable ven ible units of merchandise, and that the termpackage as employed herein comprehends any suitable unit.

The construction is such that the pull of the counterweight element 20,21, 26 is transmitted throu h cords 22 to the middle of the sides of thep atform 19 and tends constantly to raise said latform. After theplatform has been loa ed with a suitable number of packages 27 thedetent 28 is released by hand,

thus freeing the parts so that they may be properly controlled duringvending operations. Such vendin operations as hereinafter ex lained resut in withdrawal or removal o the packages 27 one by one from the top ofthe stack and the consequent upward movement step by step of theplatform under the pull of the counterweight element. Obviously as thenumber of packages on the latform decreases the weight to be acted on ythe counterweight lessens, and in order to compensate for this lesseningweight and maintain as uniform an operation on the vending mechanism aspossible, provision is made for automatically reducing the counterweightelement. The means employed provides for each counterweight element apair of abutments or stops in the` form of blocks 29 suitably secured atredetermined points to certain of the uprig ts or guide bars 17. Thelower weight 2O of each counterweight element is provided with cut-outs3() which as shown in Fig. 12 register with the stops 29 so that theweight 20 may pass down freely over said stops without being affectedthereby. The upper weight 21, however, is not so cut out and itsopposite corners will contact with the top of the stops 29 which willarrest the weight 21 and hold it as shown in Fig. 10 allowing the lowerweight 2() to continue its downward movement alone. It will beunderstood that on return movement of the parts for a reloadingoperation the weight 2l will be picked up or lifted by the weight 20 inthe course of its upward movement to the starting osition which it willoccupy when the plat orms are being loaded with packages.

The vending mechanism proper whereby the packages 27 are withdrawn oneby one from the top of the stack and allowed to drop into the receptacle13 comprises, as best shown in Figs. 8, l() and 14,:1 U-shaped frame 31horizontally disposed and adapted for sliding movement, said frame beingopen at the rear and its closed front side bein provided with aforwardly extending pu l rod 32 which passes through the casing 10, andreceives at its forward end outside the casing one of the finger piecesor ke s 12. Suitably attached as by rivets 33 to t e underside of theframe 31 and somewhat to its rear is a. sheet metal plate 34 bent into aU-sha e viewed from the side. Secured within tlie U-shaped plate 34 atthe underside of its top portion as by rivets 35 is a forwardlyextending cam bar 36 having under-cut side edge portions 37.

The series of frame members constituted each by a frame 31 and attachedplate 34 are supported side by side and guided for forward and rearwardoperative sliding movements by a cross bar 38 which is lon itudinallygrooved at its upper side as in icated at 39 constituting in ellect atrough. The upper and lower parts of the. plates 34 lit ico ' The aroundthe trough-like bar 38, the cam bars 36 being received in cross grooves40 in rearward extensions 38a therefrom. Plates 41 suitably secured totheI slide bar fit into the undercuts 37 of the cam bars and co-operatcto hold and guide the operatincr frames 31, 34 in all of theirpositions. ormally the front face 34a of the plate 34 is opposite to andslightly in the rear of the uppermost package 27 on the associate stack,this uppermost package being held against upward movement by the frameelement 31.

The hand-controlled vending frames are normally locked or restrainedfrom being pulled forward to withdraw or expel the package ashereinafter explained. However, when the vending mechanism is unlockedor released and one of the frames is pulled forward the face 34 actingagainst the rear :face of the package will pull the package forward,withdrawing it from its stack and permitting it to fall through a guidechute 42 which leads to the receptacle 13. The entrance way or mouth tothis guide chute is flared or expanded so that it underlies all of thepoints at which packages may be withdrawn from the five stacks. Torestore the frame members 31 and 34 to normal position each is providedwith a pair of draw springs 43 connected at their forward ends to pins44 on the frame 3l, the rear ends of the springs being hooked aroundfixed anchor pins 45. These springs tend to maintain filler blocks 34bwithin the plates 34 in contact with the front face of the bar 38. Thesefiller blocks 345 are preferably of rubber or other resilient materialsuitably secured in place as such material lessens noise of operation.Similarly a buffer strip 45 of rubber or the like may bc suitablysecured to the inner face of the front of the casing 10 to limit theforward pull of the frame 31, 34.

As has been stated the vending mechanism proper is normally lockedagainst operation.

locking or restraining mechanism comprises in the present instance aseries or train of slide bars (Figs. 6-10) which are seated in thegroove 39 in the bar 38 and adapted for endwise sliding movementstherein. In the present instance there are employed two trains of theseslide bars, the upper slide bars 46 overlying and resting on the lowerset 47. These slide bars are alike in construction, each comprising aneck or narrow portion joining enlarged ends, the left enlarged end ofeach slide bar having a cam edge 48. However, the end portions of thetop slides or bars 46 are slightly narrower than the end portions of theunder slide bars 47 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The trains of slide bars are adapted for contractive engagement witheach other so that one may transmit movement to the others of the trainwithin the guideway 39. spring 46a connected at its right-hand end to ain 46?) projecting upward from the riglitand slide bar 46 and at itsother end to a fixed anchorage 46c tends constantly to urige theright-hand slide bar 46 towards the le t and to maintain the train ofslide bars in contact, with the left-hand slide bar abutting against theclosed end of the'gude bar or trough 38 (Figs. 6 and 7). A similarspring 47a, connected to a pin 47?) projectin downward from theright-hand slide bar 4g( and having fixed anchorage 47e, performs asimilar function for the lower train of slide bars 47. Normally the camedges 48 are in the vertical planes of the forward ends or points of thecam bars 36. The slide bars do not completely lill the trough end to endwhen released as hereinafter explained, but there is then sufficientlost motion to permit one of the cam bars 36 to be drawn forward,entering the space afforded by the cam 48 and the slide bar registeringwith it and permitting the cam bar 36 during the forward pull of thevending mechanism to cam or push rightward the slide bar against whosecam edge 48 it acts, as well as all of the other slide bars of the trainwhich lie to the right of the operated slide bar. It will be understoodthat the operation just described applies to both trains of slide bars46 and 47,

these two trains operating similarly during actuation of the mechanismof which they constitute a part. Thus operated the slide bars completelyfill the trough, the righthand ones abutting against a fixed stop 46m sothat operation of any other of the key controlled vending members 31, 34will be prevented by the pointed end of their cam bars 36 meeting anunyielding obstruction in the slide bar train.

As stated, the upper trains of slide bars 46 are slightly narrower thanthe lower train; and the purpose of this is to prevent control of theslide bar trains improperly through frictional action of the pointed endof one of the cam bars 36 on said slide bar train. For example, it willbe understood that once one of the vending frame members 31, 34 has beenoperated to cam rightward certain of the slide bars, they might bemaintained in this position by pulling forward a frame member to theright of the operated frame member so as to cause the point of the cambar 36 to press against the slide bar opposite the associate passageway40 and hold it frictionally against the front wall of the trough 39. Soheld, repeated improper operations of the frame member first operatedwould be possible. However, by narrowing the upper train of slide barssuch improper operation is prevented, since while the oint of the cambar 36 might engage and fifictonally hold a lower lfiar 47, the uppertrain 46 would always be ree.

The train of slide bars 46 and 47 are normally held against slidingmovements by means comprising a coin controlled element or lever 49illustrated in Figs. 2, 6 and 8. The lever 49 which swin s vertically isof the first order, having a fixefulcrum or pivot 50 proecting inwardfrom a horizonta fixed frame ar 51. The rear of the lever 49 terminatesin block like portion or stop 52 which normally lies contiguous to andin the ath of the righthand members of the slide ar trains 46 and 47 andinterposed between them and the frame stop 46a: (Fig. 7). The front armof the lever 50 terminates in downward extensions 50a spaced apart andprovided with lateral pins 53. These pins in turn are so spaced thatthey will arrest a selected coin of the proper diameter but will permitcoins of lesser diameter to drop between them. The weight of theselected coin resting on the pins 53 will tip the lever 49 and raise thestop or lock 52 freeing the slide bars 46, 47 and permitting a vendingoperation under actuation of one of the finger pieces 12.

As has been stated, the coin which will operate the coin lever 49 is aselected one and to this end suitable coin selecting mechanism may beemployed, that illustrated in the drawings being disclosed and claimedin my copending application Serial No. 4483500, tiled April 30, 1930,and not being comprised other than generally in the present invention.Accordingly the coin selecting mechanism need he but briefiy described.As shown in Fig. 1. the coin-receiving slot 14 affords entrance to anangular coin chute constituted by a number of angularly related sections54, 55 and 56. Iron and steel coins are eliminated by a horfeshoe magnet57 which defiects them into an out passage-way 58. Retained coinsrolling down the inclined chute section 56 and subsequently fallingthrough the lower portion thereof which is open or without bottom, firstcome within the influence of a permanent magnet 59 by which theirtrajectories are affected according to their magnetic qualities.Assuming that the machine is to be operated by silver quarter dollars,such coin designated as C will fall through a chute 60 and will bearrested by the pins 53 on the coin lever 49. A flat spring 53a may beemployed to bear lightly against the side of the selected coin to insureits proper seating on pins 53 and its retention thereon. Other coinsless influenced by the ma et 59 will engage with a deflector plate`61 Wiich will defiect them sidewie into a chute 62 that communicates withthe return receptacle 16. A deflector 63 will act similarly on the coinsmore greatly infiuenced by the magnet 59 than silver quarter dollars.

The coin C having tipped the coin lever 49 and freed the vendingmechanism for operation as has been described, the coin is automaticallyejected from its seat on the lever 49 by means operating independentlythereof. The ejecting means comprises a second lever 64 fulcrumedbetween its ends on a fixed pivot 65, said pivot being vertical anddisposed below the horizontal ivot 50 of the ever 49. In consequence t elever 64 is adapted to swing in. a different direction from the lever 49and at substantially ri ht angles thereto. As will be clearly un erstoodfrom Figs. 6 to 8 the forward arm of the lever 64 terminates in aninwardly oil'- set contact portion 64a whose plane is slightly to theright of the plane of the o erating coin C as it rests on the lever 49.he tipping of said lever by the coin brin s the lower portion of thecoin opposite t e contact face 64a so that when the lever 64 is actuatedthe arm 64 moving to the ri ht will cause the contact face 64a to eject51e coin laterally from the pins 53. When thus ejected the coin will ofits own weight drop straight downward through the lower left handportion of the chute 62 which is open at 62a and will enter the Haringopen mouth 66 of a coin chute 67 communicating with a receptaclecontained within the machine casing. The swinging of the lever 64 asdescribed is effected by a block 68 which is secured to and projectsdownward from the right-hand end portion of the right-hand slide bar 47.This block, when the trains of slide bars 46 and 47 are moved rightwardduring the vending operation, will contact at its right-hand face withthe rear arm of the lever 64 and will swing the lever about the pivot 65as described. The parts are timed so that the coin ejecting function ofthe lever 64 will take place at the proper time in relation to thereleasing of the operating trains.

In order that the mechanism shall operate with certainty and ease, it isessential that the coin receiving lever 49 shall be freely mounted, thatis, the lever should be normally free to swing on its pivot so that itmay be properly responsive to the weight of the selected coin to releasethe vending mechanism. It is also essential that the lever 49 berestored quickly and certainly to its locking position after a packagehas been vended. To this end I have provided a restoring means for thelever which is normally ineffective but is brought into operationtowards the end of the return stroke of a vending key or nger piece 12.This restoring means 1s operative independently of and apart from thelever 49 itself. As shown in Figs. 2, 6, 8, 10, 14 it comprises a lever69 arranged at the right-hand side of the machine and to the rear of thelever 49, said lever 69 having a fixed pivot 7 0 between its ends. Theforward arm of the lever 69 terminates in inturned parallel lips 71perforated to receive a vertically disposed spring pin 72 having areduced shank portion which receives a compression spring 7 3 confinedbetween the upper lip 71 and the bod)T portion of the pin. Outside theupper lip 71 the shank portion is threaded and receives adnuts 74 forAlimitin downward movement of the pin. Norma y the lower end of the pin72 is disposed above and spaced from the stop block portion 52 of thelever 49. The rear arm of the lever 69 terminatcs in n block-likeportion or weight 75 which ovcrlice a square pin-7 6 arranged to slidevertically in a stationary bearing block 77, the lower end of the pin 76carrying a pivoted roller 78. The roller 78 is disposed for actuation bya cam 7 9 which 1s mounted on and projects upward from the righthand endportion of a slide bar 80 which is. arranged for end-wise slidingmovements in a stationary trough 81 of bar-like construction whichextends transversely of the machine near its rear, being behind andsomewhat below the bar 38.

Viewed from the rear as in Fig. 14 the right-hand end ortion of thetrough 81 1s provided with a c osure 82 which limits movement of theslide bar 80, and normally sai slide bar is maintained in contact withsaid closure by a spring183 anchored at one end to a fixed pin 84 andaving its olpposite end engaging a pin 85 carried by t e slide bar 80and projecting downward therefrom through a slot 86 in the trough 81.

It will be apparent that movement of the slide bar 80 towards theright-hand side of the machine will cause its cam 79 acting on theroller 78 to lift the end of which acting on the lock 75 willswmg thelever 69 downward causing the spring pin 7 2 to co-operate with the comlever 49 to restore it to normal position. This cooperation ispreferably effected by a sudden action in the nature of a snap actionwhich will occur during the latter portion of the return stroke of avending frame 31, 34. To obtain this resultthe slide bar 80 has mountedon its upper face a set of springfingers 87, one in a ignment with eachof t e vendin frames (Figs. 8, 10, 14, 15). The spring ngers 87 areangular in shape comprising an upright portion and a horizontal ortionhavin a justable 4 stop face 87a. Each finger 1s provided wit a pivotpin 88. Pairs of ears 89 pro'ect upward le cam bar from and integralwith the slida 80, each pair eing spaced apart to receive the associatefinger 87 and provide bearings for its pivot pin. The pivot pin 88projects outside one of the ears 89 and receives a coiled spring 90arranged to maintain the finger normally in upright position as shown 1nFigs. 10, 15 and 17.

Just to the rear of each finger 87 at its upper portion is ahorizontally disposed cam plate 91 having a working edge or face 92,said plate being secured as by pins or rivets 93 to the under side ofthe rear portion of the upper part ofthe plate 34 of the associatevending frame. l y

The construction is such that when one of the vending frames is pulledforward by its d been described.

in 76, the upper.

cam plate 91 will depress will turn on its pivot due to the yield of itss ring 90 so that the forward movement of t e vendin framewill not beinterfered with andthe n er will ride over the under face of the cam ate91 without affecting the slide bar 80 ig. 16). As soon as the plate 91clears the' finger the latter will snap back to normal position underinfluence of its spring.

0n the return stroke of the vending element, however, as it a movementthe cam e ge 92 will engage w1 the finger 87 as illustrated in Fig. 18and the finger now being unyielding by reason of the contact of its stopface 87 a with the barSO will force said bar rightward, causing the cam79 through the connecting train of devices to swing the lever 69 on itsivot thus bringing the spring pin 72 into e ect to restore the lever 49to normal position as has As soon as t e cam ede 92 clears the finger 87the cam bar 80 w l be restored to normal position by its spring, thusreleasing the lever 69 which will return to normal position shown in Fi2 by reason of its rear arm weight 75 overba ancing its forward arm.

Comparing Figs. 2, 3 and 4 it will be observed that normally and priorto the action Jof the coin C, the spring pm is spaced above the leverportion 52 as shown in Fig. 2. When the coin acts, its weight will turnthe lever 49 and bring its portion 52 in close proximity to the end ofthe pin 72, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that the spring deviceconstituted by the pin 72 and its spring 73 will be positioned to actpromptly when the slide bar 80 with its cam 79 begins its operation,which, it will be borne in mind is after the coin has been ejected fromthe lever 49. The restored position of the lever 49 is i1-` lustrated inFlg. 5 which shows the lever 69 still actin on said lever 49 just priorto releasing. e construction is such that a rapid and effective returnmovement of the lever 49 is insured by means which is operatedindependently of it and which normally is ineffective and disconnectedfrom said lever 49, thus leaving it free to function with certainty andaccuracy.

It sometimes happens that after a. coin has been inserted the vendingmechanism cannot be operated to vend or withdraw an article, as, forexample, where the o erated key 12 the associate the finger 87 whichproaches the end of key 12 is associated with an exhauste stack.

of course, the coin inserted by In such cases,

should be returned to the intending purchaser him and means are providedfor this purpose -ing 62a registerin portion is a cam plate 941; whichnormally lies behind and in the vertical plane of the sto -block portion52 of the lever 49.

draw-spring 96 connected to the rod 94 and to the stationary pin 97 onthe bearin cam 95 rearward. A dash ot 98 of ordinary construction issupporte on the bearing member 95 and has its piston rod 99 attache tothe rod 94.

In operation, assuming that the lever 49 has been tipped to the positionshown in Fig. 3 by a coin which the intending purchaser desires to bereturned, he pulls the finger piece outward, thus drawing the rod 94forward and causing the cam 946 to move horizontally forward and actagainst the lower rear corner of the block 52 of the lever 49. Thiscamming action has the effect of still further tipping or turning thelever on its pivot to the position shown in Fig. 4. As the lever 49swings downward from the Fig. 3 to the Fig. 4 position the under edge ofcoin C will be brought into contact with a pin 100 which rojectslaterally from the chute 62. As ownward movement ofthe lever continues,the eii'ect of the pin 100 will be to hold back the coin which willthereby be rolled off of the pins 53 as illustrated in Fig. 4 and willpass down the extension of the chute 62 into the return receptacle 16.

The dash-pot will operate to slow up the return movement of the coinreturn elements when released and is employed preferabl as an extraprecaution in association wit a gate device which prevents the coin frompassing downward into the mouth 66 of the chute 67. Normally the gate101 occupies a depending position, hanging straight down from its pivot101.11 on the rear lower portion of the chute 62 and leaving open theleft hand lower end 62a of said chute, the openwith the mouth 66. Thegate 101 is adapte to be actuated by a spring 1g2carried by a projection103 on the rod 9 As said rod is pulled forward the free end of thespring 102 acting against the gate 101 will swing it upward and forward,closing the opening 62a. Owing to the yield of the spring the forwardmovement of the rod 94 may continue to effect release of the coin afterthe gate has been closed. The gate of course will drop to open positionthrough gravity on the return of the parts to normal position.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I

, g means being normally ineffective 1 element 95 tends to draw the rod94 with its l declare that what I claim and desire to secure V byLetters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine, the combination of article extracting means,/adevice normally preventing operation 'f said extracting means., springmeans for psuring return of said device from abnorm l releasing positionto normal locking po. tion, said spring and becoming operative on saiddevice only near the end of the return movement of said packageextracting means to normal position affer op eration, and means forrendering sai spring means eii'ective independent of saididevice, thetension of said spring means remaining constant until the instant ofoperation a d returning to its constant normal state on e return of thepackage extracting means o normal.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of hand-controlled means forwithdrawing vendible articles one at a time, a lever normally lockingsaid means and movable to unlocking position by the weight of the coin,a normally inactive spring, and means for tensioning said spring andrendering it eiective on said lever at a predetermined point in thevending operation by a snap action.

3. In a vending machine, the combination of means for withdrawingvendible articles comprising a plurality of hand-controls, acoin-controlled lock normally preventing operation of said means, arestoring spring for said lock. and means separately operative by saidhand-controls for rendering said spring effective by a snap action.

4. In a vending machine, the combination of means for withdrawingvendible articles comprising a plurality of hand-controls, acoin-controlled lock normally preventing operation of said means, arestoring spring for said lock, and means separately operative by saidhand-controls for rendering said spring effective, said last recitedmeans comprising slide bars provided with a cam for tensioning said sring.

5. n a vending machine, the combination j vendible articles of means forwithdrawin comprising a plurality o hand-controls, a coin-controlledlock normally preventing operation of said means, a restoring spring forsaid lock, and means separately operative by said hand-controls forrendering said spring effective, said last recited means comprising aslide bar provided with a plurality of cams, each operative by one ofsaid hand-controls, and also provided with a. cam operative on saidspring.

6. In a vending machine, the combination of means for withdrawingvendible articles comprising a plurality of hand-controls, acoin-controlled lock normally preventing operation of said means, arestoring spring for said lock, and means separately operative by saidhand-controls for rendering said spring effective, said last recitedmeans comprising a lever carrying said spring, a slide bar and a camoperative by said hand-controls and effectivc on said last named lever.

7. In a vending machine, the combination of hand-operated slide framesindependently controllable for withdrawing vendible articles, a train ofslide bars, a coin-controlled lock for said slide bars, and meansoperative by said slide bars for ejecting the coin from control of saidlock.

8. In a vending machine, of means for withdrawing vendible articlescomprising a plurality of hand-controls, a train of slide bars, acoin-controlled lock for said slide bars, each of said hand-controlsbeing eiective to operate said slide bars, and means operative by saidslide bars for ejecting the coin from control of said lock.

9. In a vending machine, the combination of means for withdrawingvendible articles comprising a plurality of hand-controls, a. train ofslide. bars, a coin-controlled lock for said slide bars, eacli of saidhand-controls being effective to operate said slide bars, and meansoperative by said slide bars for ejecting the coin from control of saidlock, said slide bars when operated by one of said hand-controlsproviding a lock for preventing operation of all of the otherhand-controls.

1G.4 In a vending machine, the combination of hand-operated slide framesfor withdrawing vendible articles, a train of slide bars, acoin-controlled lock for said slide bars, cams on said slide frames foroperating said slide bars, and means operative by said slide bars forwithdrawing said lock from the control of a coin.

11. In a vending machine, of hand-operated slide frames for withdrawingvendible articles, a train of slide bars, a coin-controlled lock forsaid slide bars, cams on said slide frames for operating said slidebars, and means operative by said slide bars for withdrawing said lockfrom the control of a coin, said slide bars when under operation by oneof said cams preventing movement of all of the other cams and the slideframes on which they are mounted.

12. In a vending machine, the combination of means forwithdrawing-vendible articles comprising a plurality of hand-controls, atrain of slide bars operated by each of said hand-controls, acoin-receiving lever normally operating to lock said slide bars andmovable to ineffective position by a coin, and

the combination la second lever operated by said slide bars for from thecontrol of said removing the coin lock.

13. In a vending machine, the combination of key-controlled means forvendin" articles, a coin-controlled lever normally locrliing said means,means for withdrawing the coin from the combination said lever andretaining and separate means for withdrawing the'coin from said leverand returning it to the intending purchaser.

14. In a vending machine, the combination of key-controlled means forvendin articles, a coin-controlled lever normally loclcing said means,means for withdrawing the coin from said lever and retaining it in themachine, and separate means for withdrawing the coin from said lever andreturning it to the intending purchaser, said separate means including akey operative independently of the key-controlled vending means.

15. In a vending machine, the combination of ke -controlled means forvending articles, a coin-controlled lever normally locking said means,means for withdrawing the coin in one direction from said lever andretaining it within the machine, and separate means for withdrawing thecoin at right angles to the first direction of withdrawal and returningit to the intending purchaser.

16. In a vendin machine, the combination of key-controlid means forvending articles, a coin-controlled lever normall locking said means, awithdrawing lever edective to withdraw the coin from the coin-controlledlever and directing it through a passageway and a second key-operatedwithdrawin -lever elective to withdraw the coin from said coin lever anddirect it through another passa eway.

17. n a vending machine, the combination of key-controlled means forvendin articles, a coin-controlled lever normally loc ing said means, awithdrawinglever effective to withdraw the coin from t e coin-controlledlever and directing it through a passageway, and a second key-o eratedwithdrawing-lever effective to wi draw the coin from said coin lever anddirect it through another passageway, the two withdrawing means beingeffective to move the coin in directions at right angles to each other.

18. In a vending machine, the combination of key-controlled means forvendin articles, a coin-controlled lever normally loc ing said means,and key-controlled means for withdrawing the coin from said lever andreturning it to the intending purchaser.

19. In a vending machine, the combination of key-controlled means forvending articles, a coin-controlled lever normally lockinnr said means,and key-controlled means for withdrawing the coin from said lever andreturning it to the intendingl purchaser comprising a device for tippingt e lever beyond the position to which it ismoved by the coin and anabutment acting on the coin to eject itfrom the lever when so tip ed.

20. In a vending machine, the com inatio of key-controlled means forvendin articles a coin-controlled lever normally loc ing said means, acoin retaining passage, and key-con- JOHN GOTTFRIED.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. l, 891,640.

December 20, i932.

JOHN GOTTFRIED.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the abovenumbered patent was erroneously written and printed as "Cameo ScaleCorporation" whereas said name should have been written and printed as"Camco Scale Cdrporation" as shown by the records of assignments in thisoffice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this,correction therein that the same may conform to the record 0f the casein the-Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of February, A. I). 1933.

(Seal) M. J. Moore,

JOHN GOTTFRIED.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. l, 891,640.

December 20, i932.

JOHN GOTTFRIED.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the abovenumbered patent was erroneously written and printed as "Cameo ScaleCorporation" whereas said name should have been written and printed as"Camco Scale Cdrporation" as shown by the records of assignments in thisoffice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this,correction therein that the same may conform to the record 0f the casein the-Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of February, A. I). 1933.

(Seal) M. J. Moore,

